If you’re like me, you keep your eye out for crock-pot recipes that can
be thrown together in a hurry. There are plenty that I’d like to try,
but my busy schedule doesn’t always allow me to do a lot of preparation.
I’m often tossing ingredients into a crock pot before bedtime to cook
the next day or I’m hurriedly throwing things together before I walk out
the door in the morning. For me, browning meat is an additional step
that takes time and effort. It’s much easier for me to prepare recipes
that are simply “load and go,” no precooking necessary.

Cheese makes everything better, and mozzarella is no exception.
Mozzarella originated in Italy and was traditionally made from Italian
water buffalo milk. Most of the mozzarella cheese available now is made
from cow’s milk. Mozzarella varies from fresh, soft cheese to semi-soft and is most commonly used in pizza, pasta and salads.

Marsala, a reddish-brown earth tone, was recently named the 2015 Color
of the Year by Pantone, a company known for the color-matching system
used in printing and manufacturing. The increasingly popular color has
been showing up more and more on the runway and on home furnishings.

Football fans across the country are eagerly awaiting the showdown
between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks in NFL Super Bowl
XLIX. The biggest game of the year will take place on Sunday, Feb. 1, at
the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

The week that falls around the beginning of the New Year means a change
in schedules and thinking. It’s possible your work schedule is a bit
lighter, allowing for a little more time in the kitchen. Additionally at
this time of year, many are thinking about their New Year’s resolutions
and how they want to improve their life in the coming year.

Is there an elf moving mysteriously from place to place in your house?
Our house is visited by a little guy in a red suit and hat named Elfie.
Elfie is a new tradition as last Christmas was his first year at our
house. He flies to our house from the North Pole to spend a little time
with us and to keep a close eye on our boys, Kellan, almost 7, and
Carsten, 4. He loves to explore different parts of our home and
surprises the boys each morning from a different location.

At my school we have a staff marker board near the office and we take
turns writing weekly questions. It’s a way to learn a little bit about
each other and to share thoughts and ideas. Recently I posed the
question about favorite holiday sweets and desserts. The results ranged
from frosted sugar cookies to divinity, from peanut butter balls to
Spritz cookies, as well as thumbprint cookies and fudge.

It’s hard to believe it’s already the first day of December. Christmas
trees and lights have replaced our autumn décor, but Thanksgiving
leftovers still lurk about. Make good use of the turkey leftovers, the
mound of mashed potatoes, the spare can of pumpkin, and even that bag of
unused candy corn this holiday season.

If you haven’t started planning your Thanksgiving menu yet, don’t fret.
As long as you have a turkey resting comfortably in your refrigerator,
you’re good to go. Here is a complete menu, minus the turkey, from the
appetizer, to the cranberry sauce, vegetable, side dish, and lastly a
dessert to top off your feast. All of the recipes are crowd-pleasing and
easy to make.

Did you know that according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture over
45 million turkeys will be cooked and eaten this Thanksgiving? As we sit
down next week to give thanks, most of us will enjoy a slice or two of
turkey.

With Thanksgiving only 2-1/2 weeks away, it’s time to begin thinking
about your Thanksgiving menu and the course everyone remembers —
dessert. Not everyone has the skills or the time to make a homemade pie,
but with just a few easy steps you can make a pie that tastes like it
took you all day to prepare.

If you think making lasagna is time-consuming and complicated, think
again. By using your slow cooker you can throw together dinner in a
hurry without any fuss. Sit down to enjoy a movie, run some errands or
even take a nap. No need to watch the oven or worry about dried out
lasagna. In a few hours perfectly cooked lasagna is ready and waiting to
be served.

As Mexican flavors have grown in popularity, you may have wondered what
makes Tex-Mex different from Mexican food. According to cookbook author
Linda Larsen, Tex-Mex cuisine is a collection of recipes and foods
native to Mexico that were updated with the foods and customs of the
state of Texas. In the 20th century, as the culture grew, elements from
Spain and the United States created the oldest regional cuisine in
America.